My African Adventure

Hello readers!

         I have recently left America to be an Intern with a company called Africa Media doing Environmental and Travel Journalism in Mossel Bay, South Africa. For the next few months I will posting about my experiences as well as about the different people I meet throughout this journey.

I have titled this journey, “My African Adventure” and will be posted on a separate tab on my home page.

ENJOY!

From South Africa,

Sarah~Beth Graham

                                              The beginning of My African Adventure! 

            It has only been two days since I left the comfort of my home in America, to embark on my journey to Mossel Bay, South Africa. As I sit here writing this, I look back over the past few days and realize just how much has already happened. I have new friends from around the world. I have tried new foods that I would’ve never even thought about trying back in the states; and I have seen views so breath taking its amazing that I can still breathe at all.

            On the long trek over here I was worried that I would be the only American. I couldn’t help but think about the saying, “Everyone hates Americans”. I was determined to show anyone that I met, that Americans aren’t all the same and that, like any other culture, there are many different layers to ours. However, on my first night I met a woman named Valarie, or Val to her friends. The second I saw her on the patio of the house we were staying at the time I could tell that me and her would get a long just fine. Val is a woman about 5’3’’ with a really big personality and short dirty blonde hair. When I found out that Val was from Buffalo, New York I couldn’t help but think, “Yes! Another American!”.

            The second person I met was an Italian named Alesandro. It took me a minute to understand what he said his name was, and even longer to remember it. Alesandro greeted me just like I would assume any Italian would, with a handshake and a kiss on each cheek. A greeting that would take some getting used to if I were to travel to Europe. Alesandro is an average height and build for a man with dark brown hair, eyes, and thick eyelashes and beard.

            Then I was introduced to Will. Will is a little bit older than all of the other interns, but you don’t really notice, nor care, about his age because he fits in with what has now become our little group. He is a tall, lean, and surprisingly tan British man.

            Lastly, I met a German man name Jonas (Yo-nas). Tall and lean like Will with an obvious accent, however spoke English better than some Americans. Once again, I noticed the extreme tan that he seemed to share with Val and Will, it was then that I found out that they were all apart of a shark internship and spent up to 8 hours on a boat doing research and data. 

            All of my new acquaintances seemed to be rather nice and welcoming. I never really felt uncomfortable After I had a minute to set all of my stuff into the room we decided to go for some coffee. Even though I don’t drink coffee, or tea for that matter, I decided that I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to get to know the people that I would be living with for the next two months. A total of 6 people crammed into a car that resembled that of a clown car and drove off to the a coffee shop called “The Blue Shed”.

            Once our drinks were ordered we all decided to sit outside and talk. I could immediately tell that Val and Jonas were really close. I was sad to find out that I had arrived on Jonas’ last night and that he would be leaving early the next morning. We continued to talk for about an hour and I could feel the South African sun tanning my back as it began to lower over the water. As I was listening to the conversation between the group I realized that they were all not only very friendly, but just as sarcastic as I am. The amount of relief that idea made me feel was surprisingly comforting. After about another 10 to 15 minutes, we then decided to take a short walk down to a place they call the point.

            The point is a beach area covered with pebbled sand and worn down rocks from the constant pounding of the waves from the Indian Ocean. The waves are greeted by numerous surfers waiting to ride them to the shore. The smell of the ocean is almost intoxicating. Just sitting on the rock wall that lines the sidewalk brings me to a sense of ease and relaxation. The once chatty group is silenced by the beauty that is the point. We walked a little further down the rocky shore and we went onto a huge rock where waves crash into with impressive force. After taking a few pictures trying to get the perfect angle to showcase the beauty of the view, we decided it was time to go grab a beer or two and enjoy the sun going down.

            The restaurant we entered is nothing like what you would find in the states. There is a certain feeling of acceptance once you enter the Big Blu Restaurant. The staff is not only extremely friendly, but there is something unique about going to a local restaurant, especially in a foreign country. Although there are some left in the states, pretty much every restaurant people go to are mass produced and have lost their homely feeling now being replaced with the feeling of coldness.

            At the bar area there are two wooden swings hanging from the ceiling for customers to enjoy while conversing with friends and even strangers. The hardwood floor is blanketed in a mixture of sand and rocks. While some people would consider this being dirty, I find part of their charm. We take our drinks out to the patio to continue to watch the waves coming in and the sun going down. Even after only knowing them for a few hours, I can tell that they have accepted me into the group and more than that I feel as if they have accepted me as a person; as I have for them. After a very eventful and enjoyable first day I began to really start looking forward to this new adventure that I was embarking on.

            I am told that tomorrow more interns are arriving and that we are moving into our other house. All I can say is if the new interns are as great as the ones I have already met, this will be a great experience. Here’s to hoping.

From South Africa,

Sarah~Beth Graham

Hello Readers,          


            It has only been two days since I left the comfort of my home in America, to embark on my journey to Mossel Bay, South Africa. As I sit here writing this, I look back over the past few days and realize just how much has already happened. I have new friends from around the world. I have tried new foods that I would’ve never even thought about trying back in the states; and I have seen views so breath taking its amazing that I still can't breathe at all.

            On the long trek over here I was worried that I would be the only American. I couldn’t help but think about the saying, “Everyone hates Americans”. I was determined to show anyone that I met, that Americans aren’t all the same and that, like any other culture, there are many different layers to ours. However, on my first night I met a woman named Valarie, or Val to her friends. The second I saw her on the patio of the house we were staying at the time I could tell that we were going to get a long just fine. Val is a woman about 5’3’’ with a really big personality and short dirty blonde hair. When I found out that Val was from Buffalo, New York I couldn’t help but think, “Yes! Another American!”. Even though she's a Yankee, I'll let it slide. ;)

            The second person I met was an Italian named Alesandro. It took me a minute to understand what he said his name was, and even longer to remember it. Alesandro greeted me just like I would assume any Italian would, with a handshake and a kiss on each cheek. A greeting that would take some getting used to if I were to travel to Europe. Alesandro is an average height and build for a man.  The first thing I noticed about him, other than his accent, was his dark brown hair and eyes, and how thick his eyelashes and beard was.

            Then I was introduced to William, but better known as Will. Will is a little bit older than all of the other interns, but you don’t really notice, nor care, about his age because he fits in with what has now become our little group. He is a tall, lean, and surprisingly tan British man. 

            Lastly, I met a German man name Jonas (Yo-nas). Tall and lean like Will with an obvious accent, however he spoke English better than some Americans I know. Once again, I noticed the extreme tan that he seemed to share with Val and Will, it was then that I found out that they were all apart of a shark internship and spent up to 8 hours on a boat doing research and data. A job that sounds like it would be fun to tag along on, but not do every day. 

            All of my new acquaintances seemed to be rather nice and welcoming. I never really felt uncomfortable After I had a minute to take all of my stuff into the room we decided to go for some coffee. Even though I don’t drink coffee, or tea for that matter, I decided that I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to get to know the people that I would be living with for the next two months. A total of 6 people crammed into a car that resembled that of a clown car and drove off to the a coffee shop called “The Blue Shed”.

            Once our drinks were ordered we all decided to sit outside and talk. I could immediately tell that Val and Jonas were really close. I was sad to find out that I had arrived on Jonas’ last night and that he would be leaving early the next morning. It was obvious how close the interns get during their time here. We continued to talk for about an hour and I could feel the South African sun tanning my back as it began its decent over the bay. As I was listening to the conversation between the group I realized that they were all not only very friendly, but just as sarcastic as I am. The amount of relief that idea made me feel was surprisingly comforting. After about another 10 to 15 minutes, we then decided to take a short walk down to a place they call the point.

            The point is a beach area covered with pebbled sand and worn down rocks from the constant pounding of the waves from the Indian Ocean. The waves are greeted by numerous surfers waiting to ride them to the shore. The smell of the ocean is almost intoxicating. Just sitting on the rock wall that lines the sidewalk brings me to a sense of ease and relaxation. The once chatty group is silenced by the beauty that is the point. We walked a little further down the rocky shore and we went onto a huge rock where waves crash into with impressive force. After taking a few pictures trying to get the perfect angle to showcase the beauty of the view, we decided it was time to go grab a beer or two and enjoy the sun going down.

            The restaurant we entered is nothing like what you would find in the states. There is a certain feeling of acceptance once you enter the Big Blu Restaurant. The staff is not only extremely friendly, but there is something unique about going to a local restaurant, especially in a foreign country. Although there are some left in the states, pretty much every restaurant people go to are mass produced and have lost their homely feeling now being replaced with the feeling of coldness.

            At the bar area there are two wooden swings hanging from the ceiling for customers to enjoy while conversing with friends and even strangers. The hardwood floor is blanketed in a mixture of sand and rocks. While some people would consider this being dirty, I find part of their charm. We take our drinks out to the patio to continue to watch the waves coming in and the sun going down. Even after only knowing them for a few hours, I can tell that they have accepted me into the group and more than that I feel as if they have accepted me as a person; as I have for them. After a very eventful and enjoyable first day I began to really start looking forward to this new adventure that I was embarking on.

            I am told that tomorrow more interns are arriving and that we are moving into our other house. All I can say is if the new interns are as great as the ones I have already met, this will be a great experience. Here’s to hoping.

From South Africa,

Sarah~Beth Graham




Hello Readers,


            So I have finally finished my first article assignment of my internship. I was tasked with writing about something around me that reminded me of home. I hope you enjoy reading it just as much as I enjoyed writing it.
From South Africa,
Sarah ~ Beth

Home

“This is nothing like home. I miss my family.”  

        Lying in bed staring into the darkness of my room, I can hear my roommate's snoring. The empty feeling of being homesick begins to take me over. I’m here in South Africa for my journalism internship and this is the first time that I have been outside of the United States. I remind myself that I’m only here for two months but at the moment it feels more like two years. Through the tears now forming in my eyes, I begin to remember my family and I choke back a sob. The fear of the unknown grabs hold of me as I roll onto my side to try to find some kind of comfort.

        
        The next morning, I wake up to the sound of birds chirping and dim light filling up my now empty room. I walk onto the back porch of my new home to join the other interns for breakfast. After listening to them talk about their past adventures I start to feel my confidence grow in my choice to begin this journey.

       
        After enjoying my breakfast, I go for a walk into the small, beachside town of Mossel Bay and down to a popular tourist beach known as the point. I’ve been to several beaches back home, but nothing compares to the enchanting beauty I see when I look out to the point. I close my eyes and allow the intoxicating salty smell of the Indian ocean to wash over me. As I watch the countless surfers ride their waves ashore, I can feel the cool winter breeze across my face. Even on a cold overcast day, I can’t think of a better place to be.

      
        I sit down on the back patio of a beachside restaurant called ‘Delfinos’ to enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate. The warm cup melts the coldness from my hands while the rich liquid washes away the cold feeling of being homesick. In between sips I start to fully take in my surroundings. I see a wooden swing set with two girls playing on it. It reminds me of the times my brother and I would play on the beach. The memory brings back the feeling of a simpler time when we didn’t have a care in the world; a time of innocence and in a way, freedom.

       With the sad realization that my hot chocolate is finished, I go for a walk along the beach. I take off my shoes and allow my feet to dig into the prickling sand. The sand is compiled of broken seashells and worn down rocks, unlike the softness I’m used to feeling on the beaches back home. I don’t make it far till my feet decided that they need a break from the sharpness of the seashells. Climbing up a large rock to escape the prickles of the sand, I begin to enjoy the view of the waves crashing on to the shore.

        Out of the corner of my eye I notice a wild haired surfer sprinting towards the ocean. He kneels and begins to wax his board wildly as if the anticipation of getting in the ocean is unbearable. After making quick work of his board, and the zipper on his wet suit, he joins the other surfers in the water. As I watched the surfers I noticed that they are all of different ethnicities, yet they cheer each other on as if they were all of one family. The sight made me think back to my friends back home and the fact that we all have come together to make our own kind of family. After about an hour of sitting on what I now refer to as my meditation rock, I realize that my homesickness isn’t because I made the wrong choice to come out here, but because being here is something new and unfamiliar

        On my way back to the intern house I see a mother and a daughter looking at seashells and talking. I hear my mother’s voice reminding me that this adventure will change my life. I don’t think it hit me until now that the biggest challenge for me is to learn how to be away from the security of my family. Now that I’m away from home I have the opportunity to take a step back and realize that being homesick is only a temporary feeling. Being able to experience new things and see new places is what can make life an adventure. The new friends I am making and the new things that I have learned are all just the beginning of the next chapter of my life story.

Hello Readers!


           I have seen so many things in my short time of being here, yet probably the most amazing is when I went to the wildlife reserve called Schotia. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a soft spot for African wildlife. Being able to see them in the wild has always been a dream of mine. Well, my dream finally got to come true. This next article describes my experience at Schotia. I hope you enjoy!


From South Africa,
Sarah ~ Beth

Schotia



            I can hear my heart pounding in my chest. I can feel the hairs on my neck standing up. My brain can’t comprehend that I am only a few feet away from a wild African elephant. Breathing deeply, I slowly lift my camera to capture a moment that I will never forget.

            Africa is home to a wide variety of animals that have always fascinated me. I was 14 when I became a volunteer at the Birmingham Zoo, and 17 when they hired me as a seasonal zookeeper in the African wildlife department. On my first day of work, I remember feeling nervous and excited at the same time. I feel this today as I hear the elephant breathing next to me.

            My job at the zoo started the journey that has led me to a journalism internship with Africa Media, in Mossel Bay, South Africa. Nothing compares to being able to see the animals that I fell in love with at the zoo, here in the wild. Every weekend, we are encouraged to go out and enjoy Mossel Bay and all that South Africa has to offer. Andrea, a fellow intern and I decided to make the most of a weekend off and go to a game reserve. We chose one called Schotia, near Port Elizabeth, about 6 hours drive North, up the coast from Mossel Bay. This is where I am now, watching a male elephant pick leaves from the branches of the surrounding trees.

            Schotia Private Game Reserve is tucked away in the mountains and the bush. When we arrived and walked to the reception, the familiar and heady smell of fresh cow manure reminded me of the zoo and that animals were nearby. As we checked in my excitement mounted. The reserve is privately owned by the Bean family. The once small dairy farm is now a game farm spanning 16oo-acres. Today, Schotia is one of the better known game reserves in South Africa and is home to about 40 different animal species such as: elephant; lion; giraffe; zebra; rhino and a wide variety of antelope species.  

            After we signed our waivers, we were invited to climb into the back of a land rover and  were whisked away down a bumpy dirt road. I was surprised to see how lush and vibrantly green the hills were as I had been expecting brown savannah. The bright blue sky was free from clouds and the sun was surprisingly warm for the beginning of winter. At Schotia, guests are offered a wide variety of accommodation choices. I stayed at the more rustic Bush Camp and for those who want a really unique experience, I suggest staying there.

            Bush camp is located in the northern part of the reserve and is home to the free ranging lion pride, herds of antelope, and a few giraffe. At bush camp there are cabins and a communal bathroom. There is also a rock fire pit is perfectly placed to roast marshmallows. Thick thorny fences protect the guests from unwelcome surprises from wild visitors. We awoke to the sound of lions roaring; birds chirping and the wind blowing through the trees.

            On a game drive you can expect three things: amazing photographic opportunities, both landscape and animal; a chance to get close to some of the best known wild animals in Africa and and a lot of bumpy roads. We were amazed at the incredible array of animal species. Curious elephants came so close to the vehicle that you could reach out and touch them. Although, I don’t suggest you try that! Even the lions seemed unfazed by us interrupting their nap time in the middle of the day.

            At one point we stopped to take pictures of two giraffes. One grazing on the trees, the other lying down in the sun. The sight brought back the same excitement that I would feel when I was working with the giraffes in the zoo. Not being able to contain my excitement any longer, I asked our game ranger Dale, if I could try to get closer to them. Not wanting to push my luck, I decided that 10 feet away was close enough. So as not to scare them, I slowly sat down behind a thick bush on the rough grass and raised my camera. Again, I could feel every hair on my neck begin to stand up and butterflies flying around in my stomach. I adjusted my sharpness and squeezed the shutter.  

            We had dinner at the lapa. A lapa is a traditional dinning area with a central fire place; thatched roofing and wooden panels. Here, the air was electric with excitement from the guests mingling and chatting about their explorations. After dinner we went on a night drive to see a whole different side of the reserve due to the amount of nocturnal animals they have. After an adventurous day we fell asleep to the sound of lions roaring in the distance.

            Overall, my experience at Schotia is something that I will never forget. Back in Mossel Bay, looking through my pictures, I am reminded of why I started working with animals at the zoo. I have known these animals my whole life, but today I was able to see them where they belong, in the wild.



Dear Readers,


            First off, I want to thank you for joining me on my African Journey. It has been such an amazing experience and I have enjoyed sharing it with you. This next article is one I wrote when I had the honor of meeting and interviewing a well-known travel writer, Fiona McIntosh. As an aspiring travel writer, I was looking forward to learning from someone who broke into the industry and has been working in it for many years. Enjoy!


From South Africa,
Sarah ~ Beth


UPDATE: This article was recently published by Africa Media on their website. This is the first time that I have been published, so you can imagine the huge grin that has taken residence on my face. :D

Travel writing: it's more than just 5-Star hotels.

    Travel writing is something that has always interested me. I love the idea of being able to see the world and writing about fun adventures I have. What better way to make a living?  When I decided I wanted to become a journalist I knew that I wanted to combine my passion for conservation and travel; photography, and writing. But, what I didn’t know, is that the life of a travel writer isn’t as glamorous as it seems.

            Fiona McIntosh is a travel writer, online magazine editor, and a published author. As an aspiring travel writer I was lucky to be able to sit down with her in hopes of getting some advice. McIntosh has been working as a travel writer since 1998 and now lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her husband, Matthew. However, writing isn’t her first love. “He was a banker on a two-year contract and I was a school teacher,” said McIntosh, explaining how they ended up in South Africa so many years ago.

            I asked curiously how she went from being a school teacher to become a travel journalist. She explained to me that she had had teaching jobs when she first got to South Africa, but when she only taught for a year and a half because they were supposed to be leaving. Yet, while Fiona and her husband were enjoying Reunion Island’s hiking trails when they had a chance to meet with a journalist. They exchanged stories about what they were doing there and the journalist was so interested in their story that he asked Fiona to write about it.

            “I literally got in the back door,” McIntosh said laughing. “I’m very unusual. I’m not your typical travel writer. We were only expecting to be in South Africa for two years.”

            They decided to make the most of those two years and spent every weekend doing something, or going somewhere. She soon began working at a magazine called, “Out There Magazine”, which is now defunct. McIntosh reminisces about when she first started at the magazine. They were in the beginning stages of their annual adventure guide. She goes on to tell me that she was doing more than anyone else in the office, so they ended up asking her to do it all. A request that she was happy to meet.

            As our conversation continued I kept noticing that Fiona was repeating one sentence in almost every answer she gave me. “Know your niche”.  

            “I know my niche,” McIntosh said in a stern voice. “And I honestly think that that is the golden rule I tell people. Stick with what you are good at. I was very strategic. I wanted to do adventure and Indian Ocean islands because I like being on the mountain and I get a kick out of pushing myself hard. And I dive, so I wanted to dive Mozambique and other places. So, that is what I really focused on.”

            McIntosh continued to say that once you have decided what your niche is, the best thing for travel journalists to do is to make sure that they can deliver on their promises. She admits that when some journalists don’t make good on their promises, that it is not always their fault. However, she said the best way to keep your reputation and to make sure you can keep your promises is to undersell yourself a little. By underselling and over delivering you build your reputation within the journalism community.

            Social media plays a huge role in today’s society, especially when you’re a travel journalist.

“You have to have such a good social media presence,” McIntosh explained. “I think you can have enormous reach.”

            She also states that contrary to popular belief, she doesn’t feel as though it is important for travel journalists to also be a photographer. She explains that if the journalist is, “doing a personal story it helps that you can take photos of whomever you meet that the operator will not have.” However, due to how easy it is to source pictures she feels as though being a photographer is not a necessity for travel journalists.

            For McIntosh, the best part about being a travel journalist is being able to take part in the adventures. As I listened to her talking animatedly about different adventures that she has been on, I could see her face light up with excitement. She goes on to tell me that she loves the rush of adrenaline that she gets during a hike or climbing up a mountain. She adds that travel journalists should only write about things that they have actually done.

            Although society has created this glamourous life that we think all travel journalists all live, I learned that it is about so much more than that. It might not always be writing about 5-Star accommodation, but there is always an adventure and, in my opinion, it’s certainly a life worth living. 

            After our conversation I left feeling even more confident in my abilities to become a travel journalist. In the short time that we were able to talk, McIntosh informed me of so many things that I need to do in order to break into the travel journalism world. I learned from her that I need to find a niche; be sure that I can make good on my promises; use social media to my advantage, and most importantly, I need to get out and actually go on the adventures. As I was going back over my notes from our interview I kept thinking of a popular quote from J.R.R. Tolkien.

                        “Not all those who wander are lost.” (J.R.R Tolkien: Lord of the Rings)